The works of the Pythons has always divided audiences, their television series Monty Python and the Flying Circus is sometimes hard to get into and their films can make for an awkward unfunny viewing. Though, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the films I would consider as my one of my all time favourite films.

A take on the quest for the Holy Grail, done in a way only Monty Python can do, from start to finish its filled with the Pythons quirky humour, classic one-liners, and a musical number. It is probably for this reason why the film resonates with a wide range of audiences. And why today is considered not only one of the great comedy classics of cinema, but one of great British classics, and those are becoming few and far between.

The film today carries the look and feel of what can only be described as a mixture the ‘sweeded’ films fans create that have now become common place on Youtube, and a low budget epic (it is a British film after all). This is not a disadvantage however; it gives the film a fun light-hearted aspect, as though the actors are just playing dress-up.

As per usual with Python films, it is not without its problems. Dig a little deeper into the making of this film and you will see how faulty equipment, Graham Chapman’s alcoholism, and a reduced budget resulted in a different film than the Pythons set out to make. This however led to what I and many others consider one of the great comedy moments throughout the film. Early into the film we see King Arthur King of the Britons emerging from clouds of smoke, to the sound of horse hooves, it’s not until he is fully emerged that we see he is not on horseback at all but followed along by his servant, banging coconut shells together as a makeshift horse, while Arthur trots along clutching onto imaginary reigns. It may sound a trifle silly, but Graham Chapman, for all his problems off-camera pulls off his role as King of the Britons rather well and plays the straight man to all the other comedians’ wild and off-beat characters. As well as great writing, and performances, the film is probably best known for the array of strange and quirky comedy characters. The Knights Who Say Ni, The French Guard, Tim The Enchanter. The French Guard is probably one of the most favourite and remembered characters, played by John Cleese who is always on form whatever his character, using mock French accent to taunt the knights; “I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.” It is a scene that is always funny, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

Of all the Python films it is probably one of the most popular with audiences and Python fans. While Python humour may not be for everyone (just look at the controversy surrounding Life of Brian), this film is probably the most accessible for audiences. It manages to be fun, entertaining and in keeping with the Python humour attempts to take the Michael out of itself.

While more recent spoof genres may miss the mark, such as Tropic Thunder with its elaborate visuals taking the attention away from the performances, the Holy Grail revels in its low budget, and make-shift costumes, although you forget about this when you watch the film and couldn’t imagine it being made any other way.

The Holy Grail’s influences can be seen even today throughout films and television shows alike, just proving how influential and well received this film was and is today. It may be as factually accurate as the Da Vinci Code, but this a quest for grail that is more fun and looks set to be a firm British favourite for many more years to come.